Steelmen safe at the top

5 October 2013 19:22pm

By Luke Espoule

Reigning champions Ebbw Vale went on the rampage against near neighbours Blackwood to consolidate their place at the top of the Swalec Championships.

The Steelmen ran in six tries in a 45-6 home win to stretch their lead at the top of the table and extend their unbeaten run this season to five games. Ronnie Kynes helped himself to a hat-trick and there were further tries from Carl Meyer, Steve Davies and Gareth Rusby-Davies.
Ian Snowden converted four of the home tries and Meyer also added another. Blackwood were restricted to two penalties.
There was a shock for second placed Cardiff Met as they were held to a high scoring, thrill a minute 36-36 draw at Narberth. The students were leading 20-7 at half-time and seemingly coasting to another win.
But the home side never gave up and hit back with two second half tries. Johnny Morgan was the Narberth hero with two tries and Mick Gole got the third, while Michael Griffiths kicked 18 points and James Stephenson landed a drop goal..
Cardiff Met tries came from Sam Jones, Ben Ellis and Pierre Tucker. Mark Cooke landed three conversions and five penalties for a match tally of 21 points.
Pontypool were able to move up into second place thanks to their battling 26-20 away win at RGC1404 in north Wales. There were three tries for the visitors, from Josh Hurley, Trevor James and captain Luke Dyckhoff, and Sam Mills kicked 11 points.
The home side slipped to their second home defeat of the season despite scoring two tries.
Bargoed were convincing 45-10 home winners over Beddau in a game which saw Darren Humphreys and Lewis Protheroe each score two tries. Josh Prosser kicked five out of seven conversions.
Tata Steel maintained their good run of form with a 26-16 away win at Bridgend Athletic. Simon Evans was the visitors' hero as he kicked 16 points.
Bonymaen celebrated their first league win of the season as they beat Tondu 17-15 at home. In a tight game it was a try from Jonathan Jones that settled matters in the home team's favour after the game had been level at 10-10 at the interval.
Richard Cunliffe added the match winning conversion to ensure that Joseph Gatt's second half try for Tondu was overtaken.
Llanharan won 37-24 at the Dairy Field to enable them to overtake Newbridge in the middle of the table. Points machine Codey Rees was at it again as the outside half scored a try and kicked three conversions and a penalty for a match tally of 14 points.

Ysgol y Berwyn School club hub officer Euros Jones uses a unique Welsh-centric programme to encourage youngsters to the game with Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny and George North just some of the heroes that the likes of eight-year-old Moli aspire to be.

As part of her role as a Lions Home Ambassador, WRU apprentice Kira Philpott, supported by her fellow apprentices, organised a Disability Rugby Lions Legacy festival at the WRU National Centre of Excellence.

Second row Sean Moore began the season playing for Division One club Mountain Ash and ended it playing for Wales in the World Rugby U20 Championship. He tells us about his whirlwind rise to international rugby which will give hope to all club players who have missed out on regional rugby.

Ever wondered what it takes to feed a World Cup squad away from home? Nutritionist Chris Edwards talks us through the Wales U20 utrition plan in Tbilisi, Georgia which has kept the lads going throughout the World Rugby U20 Championship campaign.

Joe Goodchild and Phil Jones were part of a Wales U20s group who visited Georgia's Paralympic centre. After playing various sports against Georgia's best paralympians, both admitted the visit has opened their eyes and put their defeat to Scotland in perspective.

There was a special reunion recently for Wales head coach Robin McBryde when he visited Parc Eirias to play Mark Jones' RGC side. He was re-united with Denley Isaac - the man who spotted him as a raw 19-year-old and put him on the path to international rugby.

A family day out at the beach just got better than ever with the WRU announcing its first beach rugby taster session in Pembrokeshire where everyone is invited to play at Broad Haven South beach on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th June.

Hollywood actor Michael Sheen was at the Talbot Athletic Ground to support his home team Aberavon against eventual winners, Merthyr in the Tier 1 Principality Premiership final. GTFM Radio's Ioan Dyer chatted to the star who was enthralled by the season's climax.

It's a case of winner takes all at Talbot Athletic Ground tomorrow (KO 3.30pm) where Aberavon and Merthyr will be aiming to be crowned Tier 1 Principality Premiership champions. Rival captains Ian Moore and Craig Locke look ahead to the season's climax along with Wizards head coach, Jason Hyatt.

Jordan Collier is hoping Neath can make it third time lucky after two earlier defeats by Newport as the two famous clubs contest the Principality Premiership Tier 2 final at the Gnoll tomorrow evening. But Newport's Craig Warlow and Dan Partridge are determined to finish their season on a high note.

After 378 games for Aberavon, second row Ian Moore is hoping to end his Wizards career with his first league title in Sunday's Principality Premiership showdown against Merthyr. Often attending training after a 16hr shift at the steelworks, his teammates are determined to make sure he goes out in style.

Bridgend Athletic Youth captain Tom Seldon and head coach Lee Grabham are hoping to claim some silverware tonight at Ystrad Mynach when they contest the National Youth Play-off final against Rumney (KO 7pm)

Swansea university students tried a taster session on the eve of a new Touch Rugby League season which has seen a record number of teams enrol. The emphasis on the league is enjoyment where no limitations exist - mixed teams of mixed ability have the opportunity to engage in an alternative form of rguby.

After a long season, Aberavon will host Merthyr on Sunday to decide who will be crowned Principality Premiership champions. Wizards head coach Jason Hyatt and Merthyr counterpart Lee Jarvis both predict a 'great occasion' while WRU head of Performance, Geraint John says both teams fully deserve their spot in the final.

Former Scarlets and Cardiff Blues centre Gavin Evans believes Neath have made 'massive progress' this season and it's a case of 'onwards and upwards' as the Welsh All Blacks prepare to face Cross Keys at the Gnoll in the Tier 2 semi-finals on Sunday.

Wes Cunliffe received a bolt out of the blue when Jamaica asked him to join their Sevens revolution on the back of his efforts with Newport in the Foster's 7s at the beginning of the season. Now, he is hoping the Heineken 7s will further enhance his chances of competing in next year's Commonwealth Games.

Bargoed may have had modest results in their first Principality Premiership campaign, but the profile it has brought has consolidated their ethos as a thriving community club with family ties running right through it. Four first team stalwarts - captain Leigh Meades, Darren Humphries, Anthony Lott and Ian Jenkins - are also parents of junior players and spend evenings and Sunday mornings coaching Bargoed's next generation

Ex-Wales star Shane Williams relives Amman United's National Bowl final triumph against Caerphilly at Principality Stadium where he says his home town club's success was 'the cherry on the cake' for him, especially as he was able to taste victory alongside his brother, Dean.